Heavyweight Championship Up for Grabs at UFC 321

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Tom Aspinall will defend his heavyweight championship for the first time at UFC 321 on Saturday, October 25.

Aspinall, who became the full champion after Jon Jones retired, will take on Ciryl Gane, a two-time title challenger. Gane has lost both of his previous title fights — a decision to Francis Ngannou in 2022 and a quick submission by Jones in 2023. Now, Gane seeks redemption in this bout.

Aspinall has dominated his opponents, finishing eight of his nine UFC fights before the first round. His only loss came from a freak knee injury 15 seconds into his 2022 fight against Curtis Blaydes. This Saturday, another title fight will take place when Virna Jandiroba faces Mackenzie Dern for the vacant women’s strawweight title. Their rematch comes after Dern won by decision in their first encounter in December 2020.

Online sportsbooks list Aspinall as a heavy favorite at -355. While he has demonstrated quick finishes, Gane’s grappling remains a concern, as his previous encounters with Ngannou and Jones exposed weaknesses there.

The main card starts at 2 PM ET on ESPN PPV, with the preliminary fights kicking off at 10 AM ET. With 14 fights scheduled, the anticipation builds around UFC 321 as fans look forward to thrilling matchups.

Aspinall’s speed and power could be key to his success, especially against Gane, who struggles under pressure. The fight is highly expected to end quickly, possibly due to Aspinall’s impressive striking abilities.